Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4017, Ray Gile, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
Gile Ray
R. 4017
CONTENTS

No 18.386 Wray Hill - Otago N.Y.
e.l.
myr.
Timothy Sabin Collinsville Otago - N.Y.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Wray Gill  Otsego Co New York
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Vol service not stated Entd 28th 1781 between two & three years 8 Private Capt McMoston Col Willoco Major Prop Col Eaton 72 yrs old Montgomery N.Y. Witness M. Holsinger that he was in the war of the revolution but does not state the precise time of service of the applicant witness Henry Gill from 1776 to 83 no additional evidence given Credibility of witness certified by the court  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers :
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided; according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
John N. Ashton

State of New York } on the 15 th day of October in Otego County ss } the Year of our Lord One thou- Sand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in Open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas Holden at the Court House in the Village of Cooperstown in and for said County of Otego Gile a resident of Oneonta in said County of Otego and State of New York Aged 72 Years who being first duly sworn according to Law with an oath Cath speak the following Declarations in order to Obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 that he entered the Service of the United States as a Volunteer Living at Glenside in the County of Montgomery under the Command of Colonel M c Dwaster and under the Immediate Command of Colonel Miller that he was engaged in the Battle at Sacketts Hill and at Johnston that the Americans with whom he was engaged at Johnston followed the Enemy with whom there was one Major Ross to East Otsego Creek where One of the Enemy's Officers after crossing the Creek called out to us to keep his Pistols which One of Our Soldiers drew up his Rifle shot him down and went over stripped him of his Trinkets that he was absent at this time about 8 days and was discharged by Ver- bal Order that sometime in November in the Year 1781 living at Glenside aforesaid in Montgomery County in the State of New York he enlisted for during the war in the Company Commanded by Captain Ephraim Eaton was attached at Fort Gile to Colonel Peter Gansevoort's Regiment he re- marched from Fort Gile to Schenectady to get pro- visions from there from Schenectady he came back up the Mohawk River in boats to Fort Stanwix from thence to Wood Creek down Wood Creek to the Oneida Lake from thence across the Oneida Lake to Fort Brewington

from thence to three River points from three River points back to Fort Gille from thence he went with a scouting party up to Herkimer Returned to Fort Gille was engaged in scouting parties from Fort Gille up to Fort Hunter and Fort Plain and was discharged in writing as he believes by Capt Ephraim Eaton at Fort Gille at the close of the war having served in all between two & three years that his discharge if any was given him in writing is lost the above enlisted services were performed in the Militia of the New York Line that he was born as he is informed by his step mother in Preston Norwich County in the State of Connecticut in the Year of An Lord 1760 and that he has no other record of his age that he has resided at Bowers Creek in the vicinity of Montgomery in Sharon in the County of Schoharie and in Otsego & Oneonta in the County of Otsego that he was acquainted with Henry Gille of Lawrence and with Michael H. Gille of Oneonta during the Revolutionary war
By the Count where and in what Year were You born I was born in the town of Preston in the Year 1760. on the County of Norwich in Connecticut have You any Record of Your age and of so when is it
I have no Record of my age
where were You during when called into service - when have You lived since the Revolution and when do You now live I live when I was into the service in the town of Florida I have lived at Bowers Creek at Sharon and Otsego and I now live in Oneonta How were you called into the service were You drafted did You volunteer or were You a substitute and if a substitute for whom - I volunteered the first time I was out and I finally enlisted state the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where You served such Continental and Militia Regiments as You can recollect

and the general circumstances of your service I cannot state certainly whether the Officers that I remember the names of were Mustered on Continental or State Officers I remember the officers that I was under but I do not remember any more of their names I was in the battle at Tipton Hill and at Johnstown I was scouting up to Fort Plain & Fort Hunter I went to Schenectady to get provisions and carried them up to Fort Schuyler to Fort Branton and to Three River Points then back down to Fort Gile
State if you ever received a discharge from the Service and if so by whom was it signed I think I had a written discharge from the Service signed by Captain Ephraim Eaton
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for truth and veracity I have served as a Soldier of the Revolution I know Henry Gile in the adjoining town of Lawrence who can testify as to my services as a Soldier and I am also acquainted with Michael H. H. H. H. who also can testify as to my services I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension list of any agency of any State
Sworn & subscribed in open Court the 15 th day of October 1832.
Pray Gile
Horace Lathrop

State of New York } On this 15 th day of October Otsego County } 1832 personally appeared in } Open Court before the Sub- ged of the Court of Common Pleas Holcomb at the Court House in the village of Cooperstown in and for the said County of Otsego Michael Holsinger a resident of the town of Orient in the County of Otsego & State of New York aged 73 Years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath depose and say that he was personally acquainted with the above named Ray Lisle James and knows that he was an enlisted Soldier in the Company of Capt. Ephraim Eaton and that deponent saw the said Ray Lisle a number of times and practiced the exercise with him with him while he was a Soldier of the Revolution and that he knows the said Ray Lisle to have been in the said Company in the year 1782 but how long he served this deponent cannot state as this deponent was not a member of the same Regiment and further says that he knows he is the same person who has made subscribed & sworn to the above declaration Sworn & subscribed in open his Michael Holsinger Court the 15 th day of October 1832.
Horace Lathrop, Clerk.

State of New York
Otsego County ss
On the 15 th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas held at the Court House in the Village of Cooperstown in and for said County of Otsego Henry Gile of the Town of Laurens in the aforesaid County & State aged 77 years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath depose and say that he was personally acquainted with the above named Roy Gile in the year 1776 that this deponent then lived in the Town of Florida in the County of Montgomery and State of New York and that he the said Roy Gile then resided in the Town of Florida County & State aforesaid and that this deponent saw the said Roy Gile when he was a soldier under the command of Capt McMaster and knew of his going as one of the party that drove Major Ross and his party from Florida across the Mohawk River and to Johnstown and Fort Schuyler and also this deponent knows of the enlistment of the said Roy Gile under the command of Capt Ephraim Paton thinks it must have been in the month of November 1781 that he saw the said Roy Gile a great number of times while he was a member of the said Company that he the said Roy Gile was discharged at Fort Gile in the neighbourhood where this deponent then lived and that this deponent was present when he the said Roy Gile was discharged when the news of peace came to the Fort cannot say what time he was discharged but thinks it was some time in the year 1783
Sworn & subscribed this 15 th day of October 1832, in open court
Hoose Lathrop Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and that he served as he states and

The said Court further certifies that it appears to them that Henry Gile who has signed the above affidavit is a resident of the Town of Oneonta in the county of Otsego & State of New York and that he is a credible person and that he is entitled to credit and that Michael Hilsinger, who has also signed the preceding Affidavit, resides in Oneonta in said County, & is a credible person, & his statement entitled to credit. —
J. O. Morn J. C. Mansfield } Justis S Page —
I Horace Lathrop, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in & for the said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Bay Gile for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office the 19 th day of October 1832
Horace Lathrop. Clerk.
See of | | | D above -

In the matter of May Giles Pension
The Department are requested to address communications on the subject of this application to Collinsville Steyer County New York and to the case of Timothy Sabin -

State of New York Otsego County
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Otsego saying Gile who being duly sworn deposes and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following — 8 grades for Eight days in October 1781 I served as a Volunteer and as a private Soldier under command of Capt. McAlister & under the immediate command of Col. Willett. Major Hops was with the enemy that in the month of November 1781 he Enlisted and served as a private Soldier two years and one month and was discharged that during the periods above named he was not engaged in any Civil pursuit and for such services as above stated I claim a pension and there is no Clergyman living in my neighbourhood who knows me or can testify for me.
Sworn & subscribed before me this 20 th day of June 1833 Turner O'Call justice of the peace
Henry Gile

State of New York } Otsego County } p. 3
I Horace Lathrop Clerk of the said county do certify that Turner M c Calbrey before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in & for said county; and that I am acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit to be his proper hand writing & signature. Witness my hand & seal of office this 21 st Day of June 1833.
Horace Lathrop By A. H. B. Luce Dept y

State of New York } Otsego County }
We Eliakim H. Dora and
James M c Donald residing in the Town of Conesota in the County of Otsego do hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Nag Gile who has subscribed to the above Declarations that we believe him to be Seventy two years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn and Subscribed } this 21 st day of June 1853 }
James M c Donald
Eliakim H. Dora Turner Attest justice of the peace
I hereby certify that I am well acq- uainted with Eliakim H. Dora and James M c Donald who have made the above Affidavit in the matter Nag Gile and know them the said Dora & M c Donald to be men of truth & veracity and that they sustain a good character in the neighbourhood where they reside and are entitled to credit
Sworn & Subscribed before } me the 21 st day of June } 1853
Turner Attest justice of the peace

State of New York Otsego County ss I, Horace Lathrop Clerk of the said county do certify that Dorrer M c Call Esq before whom the within affidavit purports to have been sworn was at the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in of said county; and that I am acquaint- ed with his handwriting & verily believe his name subscribed to the said affidavit & also to the within certificate to be his proper hand & writing & signature. Witness my hand & seal of office this 21 st day of June 1833-
Horace Lathrop By H. A. L. Suer Dept.

State of New York County of Otsego } ss.
Ray Gile, at present of the town of Oneonta, county and State aforesaid, being duly sworn says, in addition to and corroboration of his previous affidavits on his application for a pension; that during the Revolutionary War was at the time of his enlistment as a soldier as stated in his previous affidavit he was a minor of about the age of nineteen years and resided with his father in the town of Florida and (now) county of Montgomery, on a farm lying on the south side of and adjacent to the Mohawk River, being a farm belonging to Sir William Johnson: That eight days before this deponent enlisted as a soldier, a party of the enemy, consisting of Tories, British and Indians commanded by a Major Rop made a descent upon the town and settlement of Florida, burning and plundering, and as the enemy was retiring one of their party having the dress of an officer lingered somewhat behind the rest and this deponent having a musket loaded with two balls crept up behind a rail fence to within about fourteen rods of the officer and fired and killed him, shooting him through the upper part of his body: as the officer fell, this deponent rushed upon him, but found him quite dead, this deponent took his hat and sword and then tumbled his body into the Mohawk. The sword was an uncommonly long one, and this deponent kept it for some

years thereafter: Just as this deponent had finished this job, Captain M c Master, with some militia, came up and ordered this deponent to join in pursuit of the retreating enemy, which he did and pursued them across the river and on-ward to Tribes or Trefe's Hill, where a slight skirmish ensued in which this deponent bore a part and, the enemy continuing to retreat, pursued them to Johnstown, at which place Colonel Willett with an additional force, joined us, and there we had a battle with the enemy in which this deponent was engaged and received a ball just above the knee-joint, the scar from which wound he still wears: from Johnstown the enemy retreated and we pursued them, engaged in almost constant skirmishes, until they crossed the Canada creek: the party then returned to Johnstown where the ball was extracted from his leg by a Doctor Barry: This deponent then returned home and immediately enlisted during the War, as already mentioned in his previous affidavit. As soon as he enlisted, he was immediately ordered on duty in constructing a picket fort in the town of Florida, on the south side of the Mohawk, on which he labored till the ensuing Spring, at which time the fort or stockade was finished. In the Spring, under Ephraim Eaton as this deponent's commanding officer this deponent left the fort or stockade at Florida, this deponent proceeded up the Mohawk to Fort Hunter; from thence to Fort Plain;

from thence to Fort Walradt; from thence to Fort Kaitan- mer, and thence to Johnstown; and thence from fort to fort and place to place during the whole term of his service; being sometimes doing duty in the different fortifications and sometimes on scouts and patrols, scouring the country and protecting it. During these excursions and services this deponent was under the immediate command of different officers, one of whom this deponent re- collects was called Captain Snyder - also un- der a Captain Garret Putman, a Captain French, and other officers, whose names this depo- nent does not recollect. On one of the above excursions up the Mohawk and when this deponent was under the im- mediate command of Eaton and they were passing up the south side of the Mohawk, at a point above Fort Walradt (which was on the north side of the Mohawk) the party to which this deponent belonged, being short of provisions applied at the house of a Tory to buy some and were refused: They observed however an out-door oven full of meats and bread and other articles baking, and while some of the party within doors amused the family, their companion without ran some poles under the oven and carried it off bodily, with its contents, and thus pro- cured a desirable temporary supply of provisions. At another time this deponent was one of a party, of whom this deponent thinks Captain Snyder was one up to the Secondage Fly, northerly of Johnstown and took a Tory who was called Samson (probably Lansing) who harbored Tories and Indians, and drove off his stock and

brought him into the American lines: This deponent now recollects that in some of his excursions and during some part of his services, he was under a Col. H. Arter. On another occasion this deponent, in company with five companions viz. Henry Gile, Anson French, Samuel Dinsman, Albert Frank and another whose name this deponent recollects; we came silently upon a party of eight Indians engaged in cooking in two small camp-kettles; our party stole up unperceived, sheltered by trees and opened among themselves how to single out their object, and fired. Five of the Indians fell at the first discharge. The remaining three immediately fled, but we pursued and killed two more. One escaped. We then took their arms and ammunition and their two small kettles and brought them in to Fort Plain where Col. Willett then was, who called this deponent and his companions good fellows and got some rum and treated them to what they would drink. This deponent also accompanied Col. Willett on his expedition towards Orwigs and proceeded on down Wood Creek to within about three miles of the Onida Lake, at which point this deponent and three or four others who had got frost-bitten and were unable to proceed, were sent back by Col. Willett to Fort Stanwix.
Henry Gile
Subscribed and sworn this 21st day of January 1839, before me,
W. M. Fitch Justice of the peace

State of New York } County of Otsego } ss.
Revolutionary Claims.
William Angel of the town of Oneonta, county and state aforesaid being duly sworn deposes and saith that, I am well acquainted with Ray Gile of the town, county and state aforesaid and have been for the space of thirty to four years last past and verily believe him to be a man of truth, and he is reputed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Revolutionary Soldier and I have no doubt in saying that the affidavit herunto annexed made by him the said Gile touching his services in the Revolutionary War is just and true, and it is believed in the neighborhood where he lives that he was a Soldier of the Revolution, and I concur in that opinion - and further this deponent saith not.
William Angel
I hereby certify that on this 21 st day of January A. D. 1839, William Angel, with whom I am well acquainted and whom I know to be a man of truth and who is reputed as such and sustains a good character in the neighborhood where he lives, came before me and subscribed and made oath to the foregoing affidavit.
Walter Sitch Justice of the Peace
State of New York } County of Otsego } ss.
Joseph Simney of the town of Oneonta, county and state aforesaid, being duly sworn, deposes and saith, that I am well acquainted with Ray Gile of the town, county and state aforesaid and have been for the space of about thirty years, last past, and verily believe him to be a man of truth and he is so reputed to be in the neighborhood where he re-

sides and also is then reported to have been a Revolution- ary soldier and I have no doubt in saying that the affidavit herunto annexed, made by him the said Gil touching his services in the Revolutionary War is just and true, and it is believed in the neighborhood where he lives, that he was a soldier of the Revolution, and I concur in that opinion - and further this deponent saith not. Joseph Linsay
I hereby certify that on this 21st day of January, A. D. 1839, Joseph Linsay, with whom I am well acquainted and whom I know to be a man of truth and who is reported as such and sustains a good character in the neighborhood where he lives, came before me and subscribed and made oath to the foregoing affidavit. Walter Fitch Justice of the Peace

State of New York } County of Otsego }
Stephen Gile of the town of Laurens, county and State aforesaid, being duly sworn, deposes and says; That he is a younger brother of Ray Gile of Oneonta, whose affidavit is hereto annexed: That although a child, he will remember the fact that the British and Indians made a descent upon the town and settlement of Florida, burning, killing and destroying. He also remembers that his father's house was set fire to and his father's barn and a large stack of wheat belonging to his father were burned by the enemy on that occasion, and that his father and the family were compelled to flee. He also remembers that his older brother Ray Gile was out for some days opposing the enemy on that occasion and that on his return Ray brought home a sword and military hat that had belonged to the enemy. He also remembers that his brother Ray soon afterwards was absent from home several times and as this deponent will recollect it was then spoken of in the family that he was out as a soldier in the American service. He also remembers that after the above mentioned incursion of the enemy a fort or stockade was built in Florida, for the protection of the inhabitants. He also remembers his mother crying at the time Ray went and went off as a soldier but from the then tender age of this deponent, he cannot dis-

truthfully recollect the particulars of his brother's services. And this informant further recollects that it was often and always a subject of conversation in his father's family, that Ray had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and had Ray and others talking over their services, and the scenes they had been engaged in.
Subscribed and sworn this 21st day of January 1839, before me.
Stephen G. Hill
Walter Fitch Justice

State of New York County of Otsego ss
Andrew Parish of the town of Daven- port, county of Delaware and State aforesaid, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, That I am well acquaint- ed with Ray Gile of the town of Oneonta, county of Otsego and State aforesaid, and have been for the space of Twenty nine years last past, and verily believe him to be a man of truth and he is so reputed to be in the neighborhood where he resides and also is there reputed to have been a Revolutionary Soldier, and I have no doubt in saying that the affidavit herunto annexed, made by him the said Gile touching his services in the Revo- lutionary War is just and true, and it is believed in the neigh- borhood where he lives, that he was a Soldier of the Revolution, and I concur in that opinion - and further this deponent saith not.
Andrew Parish
I hereby certify that on this 21st day of January A. D. 1839, Andrew Parish, with whom I am well acquainted and whom I know to be a man of truth and who is reputed as such and sustain a good character in the neighbor- hood where he lives came before me and subscribed and made oath to the foregoing affidavit.
Walter Fitch Justice of the Peace

State of New York } Otsego County } ss. I, Dene Rose clerk of said county do hereby certify that Walter Fitch Esqr before whom the foregoing and annexed affidavits purport to have been sworn to on the day of the date of the same a Justice of the peace in and for said County duly Elected and qualified and further that I am well acquainted with the Handwriting of the said Justice & verily believe his name subscribed to each & every of the foregoing affidavits & the annexed certificates to be his genuine handwriting and signatures
Witness my Hand Seal of office this 24 th day of January A.D. 1839
Dene Rose CLR
Hon. J. H. Brewster H.R.
Ray Lyle

REJECTED
4017
P. O. _____
Ray Gile
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .

Ray Gile, N.Y.
Gile
At. to Hon. J. H. Prentiss March 29.
to Rev. John Eby 19. June 1840
W. W. Snow, Apr 15/51
407
At. June 1832

The letter in this can was sent to Collinsville Vetr? & then sent to Collinsville .
8 Nov. 1833
New York Pay Gil Suspended acct 7 Jan 32
See letter 16 Oct 32 To J. Salin Collinsville
Hon J. Pugh July 2 34
Adm. J. Pugh J. H. Prentiss 23. Dec. 1837 11/27/1833

Oneonta, Otsego Co. N. York Feb. 4. 1898.
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Dr. Sir
You will pardon me for addressing you on the subject of Ray Gile's claim for a pension, for really it is impossible to pacify the old man or for me to rid myself of his importunity without addressing you personally. I have repeatedly informed him that I am wholly at a loss what to do for him to effect the establishment of his claim. No one acquainted with Gile - (not "Gill" as in the enclosed) but what will believe his statements in regard to his services during the Revolution. It is, and was always believed here that he was a Revolutionary soldier, and there is no doubt of the fact, his brother who died about a year since in this town was in the service with him, but was not so long in the service as he was. He recd. a pension from the Government for his services until his death, and Gile can undoubtedly prove by men now living in the Mohawk country that he enlisted and was through the war afterwards until peace. He is old and forgetful and may not have stated correctly in relation to the exact time or the names of his officers. He says that he enlisted under a Capt. Ephraim Eaton but that he was under various officers during his services. I am sensible that you must have the evidence of his services, clear and conclusive before you can grant him a pension. And my object in writing is to enquire what is wanting, and what additional evidence is requisite in order to establish his claim. His papers going to establish his claim are

with the Department, I did not do his business originally and know not what was done. If I could be informed what more was wanting and what more was necessary I will then be enabled to act understandingly, for I repeat I have no doubt but what he would prove satisfactorily by good and credible witnesses indepen- -dent of his own testimony that he was a Revolutionary soldier good and true - and if so he ought to have a pension for he is very poor and needs it -
I can say no more for him in his behalf and perhaps I have already trespassed too much, but if so you will have the goodness to excuse me and impute it to a laudable zeal on my part to aid those through whose instrumentality we are indebted for the liberty we enjoy and the Republican form of Government under which we live
I am Respectfully Your Obed. Servt.
D. A. A. Ensworth
J. S. Edwards Esq.

War Department Pension Office Dec. 23. 1837
Sir,
This claim of Ray Gill, referred to in the letter of D. A. A. Ensworth herewith enclosed, is for eight days service alleged to have been rendered in Capt. McMaster's company, and for about three years in Capt. Ephraim Eaton's company, commencing in 1781. The name of the claimant is not on the rolls of Capt. McMaster's company. There is likewise no evidence in the Department of the revolutionary services of a Captain of the name of Ephraim Eaton. A Lieutenant of that name belonged to the New York Levies in 1781 and served in that corps about five months; but the claimant's name does not appear on the rolls of Lieut. Eaton's company. If the claimant rendered any service in the New York Levies, he is mistaken in the names of the officers.
I have the honor to be Very respectfully Your Obet. Servt. J. L. Edwards
Hon. J. H. Prentiss House of Representatives

Dear Sir,
My poor old Friend Ray Gile again appears before you by Affidavit for God's sake do attend this case & allow him his Pension. If on no other account than to get rid of him
Respectfully yours
Thomas Payne
29 June 1834
Doc t  Scott Brump

House of Reps.
July 31, 1839.
Hon. J. L. Edwards:
Sir:
The enclosed statements, with accompanying affts, connected with the former application of Roy Gail for a Pension, are submitted for your consideration. I know Mr. Asaph D. Linsay, and Mr. Purdie, who swear to Gail's indebtedness, personally, and assert that they are now of respectable standing in the town of Oneida.
Very respectfully, Your obed. Servt.
Jno. A. Pennington.

House Reps.
April 30 th 1852
Hon. J. E. Heath
Dear Sir
Will you permit the bearer of this J. D. Woodward Esq. to examine the papers on file in your office in relation to the pension act of 1828 of John C. Van Curen under act. 15 of May 1828, N.Y.
Yours Truly
W. W. Know M.C.
Also in the case of Roy Gile Revolutionary soldier from N.Y.
1832
W. W. K.

Ray Gile Pensioner
Affo Le

State of New York } County of Otsego } ss. town of Oneonta }
Ray Ely of the town of Oneonta and State aforesaid being duly sworn on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God by me Theodatus Ely a Justice of the peace of the town aforesaid deposeth and saith that he first entered the service of the United States in the year 1781 in the month of October by volunteering under Captain M c Master. This deponent then lived in Florida in the County of Montgomery and State aforesaid, and was absent from home eight days, during this time this deponent was in the engagement with the British and Indians at Hips Hill, and at the Johnstown in which battle this deponent was wounded then battle under Col. M c Clintock. This deponent then returned home and on the ninth day after, he volunteered his services as aforesaid. This deponent enlisted in the Continental Service at Florida aforesaid during the war, under Captain Ephraim Eaton and was, attached to a Regt. commanded by Col. Peter Panswoort and from that time until the next spring he was on Garrison duty in the town of Florida aforesaid on the Mohawk river where this deponent was engaged during the time aforesaid in building a Fort then called Fort Ely it being located on the farm of this deponent's father from which it derived its name — And this deponent further swears that some time early in the spring succeeding his enlistment he was detached on an expedition while on Garrison duty at Fort Ely under a sergeant whose name this deponent has forgot, together with about eighteen others with three batteaux to supply the several Garrisons with provisions and according to the best of this deponent's recollection he was absent on said expedition four months before he returned to Fort Ely aforesaid — And this deponent further swears that in the first place they were ordered to Schenectady, to procure the provision aforesaid and then

after procuring the provision for the expedition they retraced their steps up the Mohawk part Fort-Side aforesaid to what was then called Fort Walradt situated on the Mohawk river aforesaid where they left provision and from thence they proceeded up the Mohawk aforesaid to Fort Stanwix situated on said river and near the head of Wood Creek where we also left provision for the Garrison aforesaid, and proceeded from thence down Wood Creek aforesaid into the Oneida Lake to Fort Brewerton where we also left provision for the Garrison and proceeded down thence down a river to a small Garrison at Three River points near Oswego and after supplying the Garrison aforesaid with provision we returned on the same route calling at the different forts aforesaid until we arrived at Fort Sill aforesaid where this deponent  the Garrison duty mainly until the he was discharged - which was a short time after the British Army evacuated the City of New York in the fall of 1783.
And this deponent further saith that during the time last aforesaid that this deponent was engaged in Garrison duty he was frequently out on scouting parties between the small forts or Garrisons in the vicinity of the Mohawk river - And in these expeditions he was commanded by different officers some of which this deponent can recollect as follows. Capt. Garrett Putnam, and Capt. French, and Capt. Joseph Harrison and Capt. M c Kinster and others whose names this deponent does not recollect -
This deponent further swears that he was in the Militia service as a volunteer as aforesaid eight days, and in the Continental Service
eight days and a few days and

as aforesaid two years and a few days and served during all the time aforesaid as a private And this deponent further swears that he said that if he has stated in his Declaration to the war department that during the time he was in the service of his country that he was in the Militia service, he he misapprehended or miscon- =ceived the language for he did not intend to be so understood excepting the eight days service as aforesaid —
Subscribed and sworn
Before me this 27 th day of March 1834.
Theodore Edson Justice of the Peace
Henry Gile

Town of Oneonta } ss.
We whose names are under written being duly sworn depose and say, that we reside in Oneonta in said County and that we are well acquainted with Ray Gile whose name is herunto attached as an applicant for a pension, and have been acquainted with the said Gile for a good number of years. And that we believe his statements in relation to his services rendered during the Revolution are entitled to full credit. And further that he is reputed to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we have the fullest confidence that he served his country in the hour of peril as he has stated in his affidavit and that we are of the opinion that he is entitled to a pension —
Personally appeared before me the persons whose names are subscribed to this affidavit and swore on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God to the truth of the facts herein contained.
D.A.A. Ensworth
Rev. Daniel Carson Justice of the Peace
Timothy Lakin
J. H. Emmons
Rev. B. Farley
David Sullivan

I Theodatus Edson the Justice of the peace having sworn the within mentioned David A. A. Eusworth, Rochester J. Emmons, Timothy Labin, Levi P. Tarbox and David Sullivan Do certify that they are credible and respectable that their statements made on oath or otherwise persons and entitled to full credit Ontario June 17 th 1832.
Theodatus Edson Justice of the Peace
State of New York Albany County ss I Horace Lathrop clerk of said County do certify that Theodatus Edson Esq. before whom the preceding affidavits of Ray Lile D. A. A. Eusworth Timothy Labin R. J. Emmons Levi Tarbox & David Sulli- van purport to have been sworn on the day of the date of the same a Justice of the Peace in & for the County aforesaid And further that I am well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Justice and verily believe his name sub- scribed to the said affidavits and to the above Certy- ficate of credibility to be his proper hand writing Witness my hand & seal of Office this nineteenth day of June 1834 Horace Lathrop Clerk for M. Richardson Depy. Clk